Aquatic device



E. 'PROTEAU AQUATIC DEVICE Filed July 19, 1926 1 INVE/VTOR W [LIZABETHP307010 Patented Mar. 6, 1 928. i

AUNITED earnerA Fat-Q3 ELIZABETH r w rnan, or nmnoors, Bnrrrsn conumnrn,cannon.

AQUATIC nr'vrcn.

.Arplicati gtlci July 19,

My invent on r ates] t improvem nt in aquatic devices, the objects fQfwhich are par icularly adap ed L fer ins r t or amusement purposes.Theobjects of the invention are toprovide a semi-submersible structureupon which a person may be supported in a swimming position and uponwhich he may propel and steer himself through the water. I 7

Further Qbjficts are to provide means i'vhereby the Qdevicemaybeshortened or exended su'i pe sons of di eren u e, and forvarying thebuoyancy of the device to acco n'imodateithe varying weightpojf theusers, and toprovide means for collapsing the device for convenience inpacking and carrying. l

The invention consists essentially of a frame suninountging ,a keel fromwhich a propelling mechanism and a rudder is mounted and a pairofexpansible floats for the frame, as vill be more fully described inthe following specification, in which 2-.-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in each figure. V I

The numeral 1 indicates a keel or centre member, having adjacent'itsopposite ends, pivotally connected to it, a forward and a reartransverse member, indicated by the numerals 2 and 3 respectively. Theforward member 2 is upwardly curved at its outer ends so as to lie wellbelow the breast of the user and to permit of freedom of arm movement.

Extending from the ends of the member 2 to the correspondin ends of themember 3 is a pair of side ro s 4 which'are slotted at their extremitiesas at 5 and are connected to the members 2 and 3 by thumb bolts 6extending through said slots. Extending between the side rods 4 arestraps or lengths of webbing 7 which are of such length as to provideconjointly a support conforming to the shape of the body so that eachstrap will support a proportionate weight and that the users body willbe comfortably disposed when lying outstretched thereupon.

Adjacent the forward end of the side rods a pair of inflatable floats 8are connected which are held in place under the rods by straps 9. Thefloats are preferably of rubher or other distensible material so thatthey may be inflated to any desired size to provide thenecessarybuoyancy,for any user and to maintain the device at a suitableangle when in use to providefor its convenient operation.

The floats are provided with suitable valves 10 to permit of inflationor deflation as required. i r V The numeral 11 indicates a stripofmetalbent back ,uponit self to form a hearing tor a rudder post 12, the endsof the strip being slotted as at .13 to permit of itsbeingadjustablysecured by a pair, of bolts and thumb nuts to the rear.extremity of the keel 1.

At the lower end of the rudder post 12 is a rudder 15 and at its upperend is a yoke 16 which is adapted to lie in a convenient position foroperation the users feet.

The numeral 17 indicates a propeller shaft suitably journalled belowthe'keel 1 as at 18 and19atth e rear end of "which apigopelher 20 isfitted. I

Th orwar end f t Pr pe sh is fitted with bevel pinion 21whi'ch is drivenby a suitably journalled bevel gear 22 on ya shaft 23, which shaft isfitted with a pair of hand cranks 24.

Having thus described the several parts of my invention I will nowbriefly explain its use.

The rudder position is adjusted as to length by" sliding the strip 13lengthwise along the keel 1 and securing it when adjusted by tighteningthe nuts 14;.

The device is then set in the water, wherein it assumes an acutelyinclined posi tion., The user then lies face down upon the straps 7,grips the hand cranks 24 and places his feet upon the yoke 16.

(ill

As he turns the cranks, the propeller is resistance to propulsion isreduced to a mlnimum.

After withdrawing the device from the water the floats 8 may be entirelydeflated, and by loosening the bolts 6 the transverse members 2 and 3turned about their pivot pins, thus disposing the side rods 4 parallelIOU ins

to and in close proximity to the keel 1, so that the device can bereduced to compact form for carrying or storage.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. An aquatic device of the character described comprising a centralkeel member, a body supporting frame including trans versely extending"end members intermediately pivoted to the keel member and projectinglaterally beyond the sides of said member. side members extendingbetween correspondin; extremities of said end members, fastening meansconnecting said side and end members together in such manner as toenable said members to be rigid y cured in rectangular formation or tobe adjusted by turning movement of the end members to dispose all ofsaid members above and in substantial parallelism with the keel memberand flexible body, supporting means carried by the side members adaptedto support a body thereon in the operative position of the side members.

2. An aquatic device of the character described comprising a heelmember, a propeller shaft journallcd in bearings carried by theunderside of said keel member,handle means carried by the forwardportion oi" said heel member. a drive connection between said handlemeans and the propeller shaft. :1 rudder carried by the rear end of thekeel member and including; a foot operable control member. a bod}support carried by said heel member and including transversely extendingend members intern'iediatcly secured to the upper surface of the keelmember and projecting laterally beyond opposite sides of said heelmember, the forward end mcn1- her being curved to dispose theextremities thereof in a plane above that containing the extremities ofthe rear end member, side members connecting eorrespomling extremitiesof said end members and thereb supported to incline upwardly toward thefor ward end of the keel member flexible body supporting straps eatendinbetween and connecting said side membe s, and buoyant; means carried bysaid body supportin frame.

3. An aquatic device ol the character described including a centrallit'tl member and a body su 'iporting frame having transverse -endmembers intermediately pivoted to the heel member and projeetinolatcrall beyond either side of said member and side members connectingthe corresponding terminal portions oi the end members and securedthereto by a slot: and pin connection. one of the end members of theframe being bowed upwardly at: its extremities to dispose the sidemembers at an inclination and said l'ramc bein; provided centrally withmeans forming a body supporting surface.

Dated at; Kamloops this 2nd day of .luly

ELIZABETH PRt )'l' l!) Al

